Five-time Tour de France victor and top contender Tadej Pogacar exited the Spanish Vuelta following a crash on the eighth stage of the competition on Saturday. The Slovenian cyclist, who was leading the race by a significant margin, was involved in a collision approximately 33 kilometers from the finish line. Despite attempting to resume cycling, he eventually had to halt and walk to an ambulance. Race officials confirmed his withdrawal from the event.
Pogacar, the leader of UAE Team Emirates, aimed to join the elite group of male riders who have conquered all three Grand Tour races. Having secured victory in the Tour de France for the third consecutive time and the Giro d’Italia in 2024, Pogacar had not participated in the Vuelta since his debut in the Grand Tour in 2019.
Following the crash, Pogacar sustained injuries to his head, left arm, and shoulder, as seen in TV footage. The incident occurred as he veered into fellow cyclists while trying to avoid an obstacle on the road, causing him to lose control and tumble over his handlebars, resulting in injuries to his head and shoulder.
UAE Team Emirates sports manager Matxin Joxean Fernandez disclosed that Pogacar required stitches on his eyebrow and other areas post-stage. Fernandez mentioned that though Pogacar initially wanted to continue, the team observed his significant shoulder pain, leading to the decision to withdraw from the race due to the injuries sustained.
Enric Mas of Movistar assumed the race leader position after Pogacar’s exit, holding a 3-minute, 50-second lead over his closest rival. The stage victory was claimed by Bryan Coquard of the Cofidis team, with Mas taking over the red jersey from Pogacar.
Notably, this marked Pogacar’s first Grand Tour abandonment in his ten participations, having never finished below third place. The Vuelta, a three-week long competition, is set to conclude in Granada on September 13.